Parry wins, Woods tied for sixth in New Zealand

By Associated Press

PARAPARAUMU BEACH, New Zealand -- Craig Parry couldn't believe his luck at the New Zealand Open, while Tiger Woods had trouble believing the greens.

Playing on his 36th birthday, Parry went to the 18th hole on Sunday one shot behind Michael Campbell. When he walked off the final green, Campbell had a two-shot lead after his own birdie and Campbell's double-bogey at 17.

"I've had many opportunities and many chances, but things haven't gone my way," Parry said of the lead swing that eventually became a one-shot victory when Campbell birdied 18. "Sometime in the game of golf you just have to grin and bear it."

While Parry was grinning, Woods was thwarted by greens that wouldn't give him a break - including a four-putt second hole for double-bogey.

"I hit the ball well all week but I didn't get anything out of the greens," said Woods, who had a 69 Sunday to finish in a tie for sixth, six strokes behind Parry.

When asked what it would take to get him back to New Zealand next year, Woods said: "Guarantee that I'd make a few putts."

Using a new set of clubs, Parry finished with a 68 Sunday for a four-round total of 273, 11-under on the par-71 Paraparaumu Beach links layout that Woods' New Zealand caddie, Steve Williams, played regularly as a junior.

Campbell,who just missed an eagle putt on 18 that would have forced a playoff with Parry, finished in a three-way tie for second at 10-under 274 after a 69 Sunday. Also tied for second were Steve Alker (70) of New Zealand and Stephen Leaney (71) of Australia.

Campbell had birdied 15 and 16 to put him into the lead.

"It was fun - for 16 holes," said Campbell. "On that first putt on 17, I read it straight and it went right three inches. I kind of rushed the second."

Campbell was among several New Zealand golfers who threatened to boycott their national Open when organizers increased ticket prices by nearly 10 times to cover the cost of Woods' reported $2 million appearance fee. Campbell relented when tournament organizers agreed to let juniors in for free.

Making the turn Sunday at 2-under and seven strokes back of the lead, Woods birdied 10 and eagled 12 - sinking a 30-foot putt - to go to 5-under and within three shots of the lead.

But Woods, who came from seven shots back with seven holes to go to win at Pebble Beach two years ago, bogeyed the next hole when his tee shot went into heavy rough on the left and his second shot didn't reach the green.

Several thousand fans followed him around Sunday and about the same number in a grandstand on the 18th gave him a standing ovation when he walked up to the final green. This was Woods' first New Zealand appearance.

Play Sunday began an hour late due to soggy greens from rain over the past two days, with play suspended for more than three hours on Saturday. Fourteen golfers had to finish their third rounds on Sunday morning.

On the second, Woods was on the green but about 45 feet away. He left his first putt about 5 feet from the hole and missed his second putt, putting it past the hole by about the same distance.

Dejected, he quickly putted for the third time, only to put it past the hole the other way. His next putt found the hole for a double-bogey 5.

"I missed the first putt, I missed the second putt, I missed the third putt, but I got the fourth one," Woods said with a smile.

On the third tee, Woods stopped in his downswing after a crack was heard. He appeared to wince in pain and held his left wrist, saying "Ow."

After stepping back for a few moments, he went back to hit his tee shot to the fairway, but he bogeyed that hole as well, leaving him 3-over after four holes.

Jae An, the South Korean 13-year-old who attends school in New Zealand, had final-round problems, shooting a 79.

The tournament featured heavy security after a letter containing cyanide was sent to the U.S. Embassy in nearby Wellington in December.

Although it did not mention Woods specifically and was a general threat against the tournament, a group of plainclothes police carrying rifles in bags and in golf carts followed Woods during the tournament.